Leyte-Samar DAILY EXPRESS POSITIVE l FAIR l FREE VOL. XXXI NO. 041 TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019 P15.00 IN TACLOBAN Despite of some technical glitches Comelec says EV elections successful and orderly JOEY A. GABIETA TACLOBAN CITY- Despite of some tech- nical glitches, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) described as successful the Mon- day’s balloting here in the region. In fact, the poll body ing. projects that around 85 “ The conduct of the percent of the region’s elections here in region more than 3.05 million was generally peaceful and voters have cast their bal- orderly (as there were no lots to fill up the positions major) problems encoun- up for grabs. tered except that there were Lawyer Rafael Olaño, around 30 SD cards and Comelec regional director, several VMCs that mal- admitted that while there functioned but these are were SD (secure digital) just technical glitches which cards and vote counting were replaced right away,” machines (VCMs) that Olaño said in an interview. malfunctioned during the He, however, admitted PEACEFUL AND ORDERLY EV ELECTIONS. Thus said lawyer Rafael Olaño, regional director of the Commission on balloting, these were mi- that proclamation of some Elections,describing the conduct of the balloting in the region that was marked with technical problems involving vote nor and did not hamper counting machines and SD cards and massive vote-buying. Photo shows Tacloban City newly-elected mayor, Alfred the conduct of the ballot- see Comelec /page 2 ... Romualdez, have casted his vote at the Panalaron Central School. DOT pushes sports Reelectionist Leyte mayor tourism in EV loses by a single vote TACLOBAN CITY – TACLOBAN CITY- An incum- The regional office of the bent mayor in Leyte who is seeking Department of Tourism for a reelection lost on her bid by (DOT) is ready to assist lo- just a heartbreaking single vote. cal government units and Proclaimed as mayor of San organizations who want to Isidro town was Remedio Veloso organize big sports events. who garnered his winning votes of Thus said DOT Re- 8,829 against the incumbent may- gional Director Karina or, Susan Ang’s 8,828 votes. Rosa Tiopes who said that Ang, who ran under the ad- sports tourism falls under ministration’s PDP-Laban, is seek- their MICE or Meetings, ing for her second term as mayor Incentives, Conventions, of the fourth class town with an San Isidro Mayor Susan Ang was defeated by a and Exhibitions/Events. income of about P90 million. single vote on her reelection bid against Remedio “We are very much sup- Her husband, Alan, also ap- Veloso. (Photo Courtesy) portive of entities or or- pears to be losing on his 19,000 people spread on its ganizations that promotes reelection bid as a board 19 barangays, is the nephew sports tourism. The activi- member representing of Rep. Vicente Veloso who ties they do can generate Leyte’s third district. is also on his way or gain- more arrivals and when Veloso, who belongs to ing his second term against we say more arrivals, we the United Nationalist Al- former congressman, Andy means more income for liance, was proclaimed by Salvacion. those who are in the main- the members of the board The Leyte Samar Daily stream tourism industry,” of election of canvassers Express could not get as of Tiopes said. Monday night. The town The Department of Tourism in Eastern Visayas has thrown press time, reactions of both “As of right now, we has about 22,367 registered its support on sports tourism. Photo shows participants of Veloso and his opponent are already of hosting na- voters. the recently-held Open Dart Tournament held in Palo, Leyte The newly-elected may- see Reelectionist / see DOT /page 2 ... which attracted foreign players.(ROEL T. AMAZONA) or of the town of more than page 7 ... 2 Leyte Samar Daily Express NEWS Tuesday, May 14, 2019 PNP says 65 vote counting machines Region’s dynasty families malfunctioned across the region among major winners during Monday’s balloting tion with his younger brother, TACLOBAN CITY- Martin Romualdez won Governor Gerry Boy Espina. Major political families of on his congressional bid, Rep. Espina’s son, the region are to continue replacing his wife, Yedda, Gerard, was elected as may- their grips as they won who is projected to return or of the provincial capi- during Monday’s midterm to Congress via the party- elections. tal of Naval with an uncle, In Leyte, the Petilla and Rudy, also reelected as may- its subgroup Loreto-Cari or of Kawayan town. families, continue to domi- In Southern Leyte, Rep. Roger Mercado was reelected nate its political landscape. Carlo Loreto Governor Leopoldo for the lone congressional Dominico Petilla won his to occupy the post currently district of the province with third term as well as his held by her mother. Anoth- his younger brother, Damian, Police Director Brigadier General Dionardo Carlos sister-in-law, Ann, wife of er brother, Michael, is set to also reelected as governor. TACLOBAN CITY- encountered in the polling former energy secretary Martin & Yedda Romualdez become the province’ vice Carlos Jericho, as mayor of governor. About 65 vote counting ma- precincts ranged from pa- Palo. list group. She is the first However, another mem- chines (VCMs) used in var- per jams to malfunctioned nominee of Tingog. ber of the family, Stephen ious polling precincts in the machines which resulted Romualdez’ cousin, Al- James, who is the current region have malfunctioned. in the delay of the voting fred, is sure to reclaim his vice governor, lost on his This was disclosed by process. post as mayor of Tacloban bid to unseat Rep. Edgar Police Director Brigadier Some of these defective Mary Sarmiento for Samar’s General Dionardo Carlos. machines failed to read the first congressional repre- During the conduct of ballots as reported. sentative. Rep. Roger Mercado the balloting on Monday, However, the regional In Northern Samar, the 5,503 VCMs were used office of the Commission Ongs continue to dominate across the region. on Elections (Comelec) Gov. Dominico Petilla with Rep. Edwin Ong won Based on their monitor- immediately replaced them as governor of the province, ing, Carlos said that of the or have them repaired. 65 VCMs that developed “(But) despite of these technical problems, 21 were technical problems of the in Leyte; 17 in Biliran; 12 VCMs, there is really noth- in Eastern Samar; five in ing to worry about. It has Southern Leyte; four each been properly addressed Alfred & Cristina Romualdez in Samar and Northern Sa- by the Comelec,” Carlos City, currently occupied by mar and two in Ormoc City. said. his wife, Cristina. The technical glitches (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA) In Samar, the Tans hold Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento Rep. Edwin Ong Olaño said that he Ann Petilla of power in the province Comelec... replacing his uncle, Jose, ...from Page 1 would like to give credit will be extended by another The Espinas dominance Also winning were who would take his con- to both the Philippine Na- three years with the fam- in Biliran will continue as Carlo Loreto as vice gover- gressional post for the prov- tional Police and the Army ily’s matriarch, Milagrosa, outgoing congressman Roge- of the winners have to be nor for his third term; Carl ince’ second congressional for their effort in ensuring winning the gubernatorial lio Espina is to switch posi- delayed due to the malfunc- Nicholas Cari as congress- district.(JOEY A. GABIETA) tioned SD cards as these that the balloting here in man of Leyte’s fifth district; are to be reconfigured by the region would be peace- and Jose Carlos Cari as the technicians hired by the ful and orderly. mayor of Baybay. poll body. “I credit the PNP and The Romualdezes will The SD cards contains the Army which came up also continue to dominate data that are to be fed to the strategies to ensure that the other parts of Leyte, Sharee Ann Tan VCMs. the elections here in the particularly its first district Among affected by the region would be peaceful which includes Tacloban post currently held by her malfunctioned SD cards are and orderly,” he said. City. daughter, Sharee Ann. poll winners in Tacloban City. The PNP in the region Governor Gerry Boy Espina Former congressman Sharee Ann, in turn, is Jose Ong They, however, are expected deployed 1, 390 policemen to be proclaimed Tuesday as well as around 2,000 to a thousand of darts play- added. competition held in Palom- night or the following day. soldiers across the region, DOT... particularly on the 11 ar- ...from Page 1 ers are competing against Noel said that the past pon town, Leyte. In Calbayog City, more the best competitors in said two years that they have In Tacloban City, the than 20 SD cards were also eas earlier identified as tional conventions, sports sport. staged the international biggest sport competition discovered to have mal- potential flash points due competitions in some ar- “We are giving local event in Leyte were success- is a dragon boat competi- functioned reason these are to presence of the rebel eas in the region that are players a venue for them to ful which encouraged them tion which is organized by not to be reconfigured. groups or private armed relatively ready. It just need compete with world class to hold the Philippine Open the Saltwater Dragons of But Olaño said that these group coupled with in- additional facilities,” the players, this is a big op- tentatively set on April, Tacloban City in support to SD cards did not suffer any tense political rivalries.